Niall Horan jokes he won't return to 'The Voice' after 'hard' battle: 'I'm not coming back'

As if the battle rounds on “The Voice” couldn’t get any more cutthroat, just throw some playoff pass warfare into the mix.

Team Kelly’s D. Smooth and Ali captivated coaches Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan during the third installment of the battle rounds Monday night, performing a soulful cover of “Unaware” by Allen Stone.

“It was just an unbelievable duet,” Horan said. “There was no battling in it. It was just two great singers giving each other room to do their thing.”

While Clarkson gave props to both contestants, she also praised Ali – who was born deaf – for her intricate vocal delivery. “It’s a God-given talent not many have,” she said.

Clarkson chose Ali as the battle’s winner, but before D. Smooth could hit the road, Chance hit his steal button to bring the 25-year-old onto his team. Clarkson, however, had an ace up her sleeve, hitting her playoff pass button to thwart his steal and advance D. Smooth to the playoffs.

“I kind of feel bad ‘cause you might want to work with him, but I just don’t care,” Clarkson told Chance, adding that D. Smooth has “a gift to make it all the way to the finale.”

Here’s what else went down during Monday’s episode.

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Kate Cosentino and Tiana Goss of Team Niall packed a punch with their dynamic rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘80s pop classic “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

“This song can be a little difficult to show your vocal capability, so I thought it was cool that you did slow it down in the beginning ‘cause we could hear you individually,” Clarkson said. “I don’t think anybody outdid anybody here; I think it’s an even playing field.”

Chance was equally floored by the stage presence of both singers. “If I had to choose just based on who I think is going to make it as a star, I wouldn’t be able to choose ‘cause I think both of you guys are phenomenal,” he said.

Horan declared Cosentino as the battle’s winner, which left an opening for Chance to swoop in and steal Goss for his own team.

“I saw potential, and she has soul to her voice and she has a stage presence,” Chance said of Goss. “I’m excited to see what she’s going to do on Team Chance.”

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Team Niall singers Ryley Tate Wilson and Michael B. slowed things down with a smooth performance of Giveon’s “Heartbreak Anniversary.”

Chance and Clarkson gushed over the pair’s harmonious chemistry, with Clarkson adding that both contestants “should be in the finale.”

“That was one of the best performances that we’ve seen in the battle rounds so far,” Chance said. “It was incredible how you guys bounced off of each other.”

The singers’ combined vocal prowess didn’t make the task of choosing a winner any easier for Horan.

“If they ask me to come back (to the show), I’m not coming back ‘cause I cannot tell you how hard this is,” Horan said. “The performance from the two of you was just off the charts. You sung beautifully together.”

In the end, Horan chose Michael B. as the battle’s victor, but the show wasn’t over for Wilson. Shortly after announcing his decision, Horan hit his playoff pass button, sending the 15-year-old straight to the playoffs round.

“We definitely have a potential winner on Team Niall, and his name is Ryley Tate Wilson,” Horan said.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Niall Horan jokes he won't return to 'The Voice' after 'hard' battle